GOProud founder faces off with WND editor on whether 'gay' group is conservative

The founder and chairman of GOProud, the homosexual activist group courting the conservative movement, has agreed to debate its biggest detractor, WND founder Joseph Farah at the “Taking America Back National Conference” here Sept. 17.

WND disinvited Ann Coulter from a keynote speaking role when she agreed to address GOProud’s “Homocon” conference a week later, prompting outrage from the pundit and intense media coverage. Farah contended she was “affirming” the group with her high-profile speech and was permitting herself to be exploited by the group, permitting it to make deeper inroads into the conservative movement.

GOProud supports hate-crimes legislation, same-sex marriage, open homosexuality in the military and special tax breaks for people based on sexual proclivities, says Farah. He says there’s nothing “conservative” about GOProud’s agenda, which he calls “radical.”

So it might be something of a shocker that WND agreed to invite GOProud to debate.

WND Editor and CEO Joseph Farah

“This conference has always been about debate,” Farah said. “We invited, among others, the American Civil Liberties Union, La Raza, the NAACP and Freedomworks, to come debate the issues of the day with us. To GOProud’s credit, it was willing to stand toe to toe with us. I’m looking forward to the challenge. From my point of view, this represents a much-needed opportunity to expose GOProud’s actual goals and agenda.”

The standard agreement included a platform for GOProud to market event tickets – $15 in advance, $20 at the door – to its supporters, keeping revenue derived from its sales. However, GOProud is receiving no payment from WND for the appearance.

Anticipating that critics will lob a “hypocrite” label his way, Farah draws a sharp distinction between his decision to disinvite conservative star commentator Ann Coulter from the Taking America Back Conference for addressing GOProud’s ‘Homocon’ event in New York and inviting Barron to the WND conference to debate GOProud’s positions.

“Coulter’s paid speaking appearance at GOProud’s event serves to validate the group’s agenda, which as I’ve written goes far beyond just tearing down and remaking the Judeo-Christian institution of marriage, attacking free speech with hate-crimes laws or integrating open homosexuality in the military,” he said. “With so-called ‘conservative’ superstars embracing GOProud, a faceoff like this becomes an absolute necessity. If Ann Coulter were going to ‘Homocon’ to debate and expose GOProud, I would have congratulated her.”

Speakers at the conference, which is followed by a weeklong Royal Caribbean cruise called “The Tea Party at Sea,” include a variety of elected officials, authors, commentators and entertainers. The list includes Rep. Michele Bachmann, Ambassador Alan Keyes, Rep. Devin Nunes, Tom Tancredo, authors Jerome Corsi, Aaron Klein and David Kupelian.